POL 324 Lecture 9: Current State of Laws
5 Feb 2019
School
Department
Course
Professor
Current State of Laws
Citizens United, McCutcheon:
Many of the limitations of BCRA have been struck down
Remnants:
Disclosure
Ads must have clarification of who sponsored
Candidate can’t also work with groups
Generally speaking:
Laws on limitations: most are gone
Laws on disclosure: most are around/stronger
Money spent by PACs and Super PACs
Called “independent expenditures”
Outside Groups
To donate money, an organization needs to create a PAC
Political action committee
Corporation, labor union, etc. cannot spend/donate on its own
Non political group so forms a PAC
ex. AT&T PAC, the political committee associated with AT&T
Super PAC: cannot donate to a candidate or group
Also know as “independent Expenditure Only Committees”
But they can spend all the money they want on other resources
The key is that they are independent of the campaign
PACs: have some limitations on how funds are raised
PAC
Can use the organization’s money (ex. AT&T PAC can use the money earned by AT&T
and shift it into donation purposes)
Can donate directly to a candidate, influence policy, many donate bi-partisan because
they need something done and want to influence legislative process as main goal, don’t
necessarily care about a specific candidate
Limits on spending
Cannot accept contributions from some people
Types of PACs
Legal classifications
Connected PACs
Created by a business, union, or health organization so that a non-political organization
can donate money to a candidate
CANNOT raise money widely
CAN get money from a “restricted” class
Own members, shareholders
4,600 active PACs
Non-Connected PACs
Document Summary
Many of the limitations of bcra have been struck down. To donate money, an organization needs to create a pac. Corporation, labor union, etc. cannot spend/donate on its own. Non political group so forms a pac ex. At&t pac, the political committee associated with at&t. Super pac: cannot donate to a candidate or group. But they can spend all the money they want on other resources. The key is that they are independent of the campaign. Pacs: have some limitations on how funds are raised. Pac and shift it into donation purposes) they need something done and want to influence legislative process as main goal, don"t necessarily care about a specific candidate can donate money to a candidate. At&t pac can use the money earned by at&t. Can donate directly to a candidate, influence policy, many donate bi-partisan because. Created by a business, union, or health organization so that a non-political organization.
